Wang family small peasant girl

Chapter 8

Zhang Yun taught Zhou Laishui step by step according to his memory and his very shallow mechanical knowledge.

First, four wooden boards are assembled into a wooden frame, and two wooden columns are erected on top of them. Wait, when the time comes, the speed of rotation will be different.Zhou Laishui made everything according to what she described, and then assembled the scattered wooden pieces. It took a full three days to complete the work.

After the simple cottonseed removal machine is completed, all the cotton in the field has been picked, and the first few batches of cotton that have been picked and dried in the yard of the second and third uncles have dried up, and everyone is waiting to see the test of the equipment.

Early this morning, Zhou Laishui took the cottonseed remover with him, took Li, Zhou Min's family, and Zhang Yun to Zhou Shan's yard together, and was going to take dried cotton from his yard to try.

When they went to Zhou Shan's courtyard, they saw that Zhou Ping and Mrs. Ma were already waiting there, and the Zhou family seemed very excited.

As soon as Zhou Laishui put down the equipment, he followed the steps Zhang Yun told him and arranged manpower. Mrs. Li fed seed cotton to the gap between the two shafts. Zhou Min and Zhou Shan cranked the handle. Rolling, making a creaking sound, the cotton that Li Shi just stuffed in his hand, after such a rolling, the cotton wadding and cottonseed quickly separated and fell on the inner and outer sides of the gear shaft.

"It's done, it's done." The surrounding family were all overjoyed, Zhou Laishui shouted excitedly, grinning so hard that his front teeth were scorched.

Mrs. Li was also very happy, with the cotton stuffed in his hand, he began to say, "This year's cotton field has a bumper harvest, and we got this baby pimple again, we will definitely make a good fortune."

Chen's, Zhang's, and Ma's daughters-in-law, together with the girls in the family, all filled cotton in dustpans for a while, and crowded in front of the seed remover, grabbing the seed cotton, scrambling to stuff it into the gap, and stuffing it in their mouths. Jiji guagua chattered non-stop, both fresh and excited, and the yard was very lively.

Zhou Laishui opened his voice and said: "It's so noisy that you can't do the work, don't worry, more than half of the wood is left, I'll hurry up and make two more, don't let anyone in our family be left behind. Taiwan, then it will be faster to work.”

"Hey, Dad." All the brothers of the Zhou family agreed in unison, and Zhou Laishui gave a few more instructions, then took Zhang Yun back to his courtyard, and continued to roll up his sleeves to make the seed removal machine, Zhang Yun still assisted, The previous one already had experience, and the next move was much faster. Before the sun went down that day, a new one was made.

Zhou Laishui put down the tools here, and Zhou Shan's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhang, rushed into the yard and said with a smile, "Father, we have already prepared meals in the yard. Everyone stays with us for dinner today. I'll come and help you clean up." , let's go."

As Mrs. Zhang spoke, she helped to clean up the sawdust on the ground, Zhou Laishui put all the tools back, and after a while, the three of them left the yard and went around to Zhou Shan's yard behind.

As soon as I entered the yard, I saw several piles of seed-removed cotton as high as a person were being pushed under the eaves of the main room, and the cotton seeds that came down were also filled into a basket full.

Mrs. Chen stood waiting in front of the main room. Seeing them rushing over, she pulled Zhang Yun up and walked in, smiling and saying, "Come on, come on, come on, you are a great hero today. Hurry up and go in with Auntie, the top position is reserved for you."

Zhang Yun was dragged by Mrs. Chen to the main room, and hurriedly refused: "Auntie, that's not okay, how can I sit in the first seat, our family, don't be so polite, if you really sit in that seat, I will Don't feel uncomfortable all over, I'm afraid I can't even swallow the food, why don't I go on as usual, so I can feel more at ease."

Mrs. Zhang who was following behind didn't agree, she opened her mouth and said with a smile: "Today's merit must belong to Yun'er, you can't push it away."

Seeing the two aunts being so provocative, Zhang Yun couldn't take it anymore, and refused to sit down again and again. Li Shi watched and came up to relieve the siege, "Okay, okay, since Yun'er is afraid of feeling uncomfortable, then Don't embarrass her, it's all your own family, and you don't have to make some formalities, as long as we keep her interests in mind, it's no better than anything else."

As soon as Mrs. Li opened her mouth, the aunts and aunts calmed down, and followed what Zhang Yun said, and it was the same as that day. There was a table for men of all ages, daughter-in-law and girls, and a lot of dishes were served on the tables on both sides. , and took two jars of old wine, except for the girl's family who really didn't drink it, all the others poured it out, which can be regarded as a celebration for today's event.

After drinking for three rounds, there was too much talking. The whole Zhou family was talking about this year's bumper harvest and their plans after making money. Everyone felt that there was more hope for the days to come.

"In those years, my in-laws mentioned it several times, saying that the monks in Anbao Temple had told Yun'er's fortune, saying that her life was prosperous. I didn't pay attention to it in the past years. From today's point of view, what my in-laws said is true. You See, our family is blessed by Yun'er." Zhou Laishui was very happy today, drank two big bowls of old wine, and now he was more excited, talking at the throat.

As soon as the Zhou family members echoed it again and again, the topic became more and more talked about, and most of them revolved around Zhang Yun. The brothers in the family drank some more while they were happy, and when they got off the table, they were all full of alcohol, and they were staggered back home by their wives.

After being drunk for a while, they did not delay their work. The next day, the Zhou family got up early as usual. Zhou Laishui distributed the two finished cottonseed removal machines to Zhou Shan and Zhou Ping. The cotton in their two yards had already been dried. , and the one in Zhou Min’s courtyard was not as good, but when Zhou Laishui spent half a day to make another one, the cotton dried on the courtyard dam was completely dry, and Zhou Min’s family gathered around the cotton seed removal machine to dry. .

The three courtyards went side by side, and the piles of seed-removed cotton were getting higher and higher, and several baskets were filled with the cotton seeds that had been swept up.

Uncles and aunts were all immersed in their work, and Zhang Yun helped Mrs. Li cook, feed the chickens, feed the pigs, and clean up. Although Mrs. Li refused several times, Zhang Yun always replied, "Grandma, you Let me be idle, just treat me as a guest, you say that we are our own family, and the family is so busy, I can help with something, don't mention how happy I am." In this way, Li Shi also obeyed her. , only told him not to get tired, and not to stop him.

After three days of busy work, Zhou Ping's yard was the first to finish the work. The couple packed and tied the cotton and came to Zhoumin's yard to help.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Mrs. Ma went to help Mrs. Chen, and Zhou Ping went to Zhou Laishui's side to help him put the seeded cotton into the basket and put it on his head. His hands were neat and hesitant. Several times I wanted to open my mouth to Zhou Laishui, hesitated for a while, and then murmured: "Father, when I came here just now, I met Uncle Caifa outside the yard, he chatted with me for a few words, and sighed several times after just a few words. In a low tone, he said that the price of seed cotton is low this year, so what should we do with so much cotton at home."

Zhou Laishui, who was working hard, stopped his hands and turned to look at Zhou Ping. Now that he had opened his mouth, Zhou Ping simply said, "Father, our family was not as worried a few days ago. If it wasn't for Yun'er, it would be the same I was busy working during the year, and I piled up a lot of cotton, but I couldn't sell it for a lot of money. Now our family is healed, but every household in the village is still worried, should we... help them. "

Zhou Ping said all the words he was holding back, and then looked at Zhou Laishui, wondering what his father thought, and whether he would agree to help other families in the village.

"Ah, I'm so confused. If you didn't mention it, I wouldn't have thought of this. What else is there to say? They are all from the same village, just like my own family. How can I hide something good? , Tuck it in, third child, hurry up, you do it here, I’ll go find Lizheng right away.” Zhou Laishui patted the back of his head, feeling confused, thanks to his son’s early reminder, otherwise it would be the cotton harvesting time, and other people in the village We can only sell seed cotton at a low price, only a few dollars, and we have to tighten our belts to live.

Seeing that his father agreed without saying a word, Zhou Ping was so happy in his heart, he hurriedly agreed to take over the work of Laishui next week, and watched him hurried out of the yard.

"What's wrong with dad? Where are you going at this time?" Zhou Min, who was busy living, couldn't help asking when he saw Zhou Laishui leaving in such a hurry.

"Father went to find Lizheng. He is going to tell Lizheng about our matter, so as to help other families in the village so that they don't have to work in vain this year." Zhou Ping said without hiding anything, grinning.

Zhou Min, Mrs. Chen, Mrs. Ma, and Mrs. Li, who heard the movement from the kitchen, all agreed when they heard this, saying why they hadn't thought of it earlier.

A few people in the yard were talking enthusiastically, and Zhang Yun in the kitchen heard it clearly, and then looked at Zhou Lan who was chopping vegetables, with a calm expression, as if he was not surprised at all, and he couldn't help feeling warm in his heart. The real rural people let her see the warmth of people's hearts.

Since Zhou Laishui rushed to Lizheng's house that day, and explained in detail about the cottonseed machine, every household in Xiahuai Village swept away the haze of the previous few days, and they worked in full swing. Groups of people ran to Zhou's house and followed Zhou Laishui. Learn to do cottonseed machine.

Most of the people in this village are all-rounders. They can do a little bit of woodwork, clay work, bamboo weaving, roof repairing, etc. Most of them don’t want to be exquisite and beautiful, but just to be practical. Under Zhou Laishui's wholehearted guidance, the cottonseed removal machine was fully capable of doing it. Looking at the villagers happily carrying the cottonseed machine out of the hospital, and the grateful faces, everyone was infected with this joy. The Zhou family There was laughter everywhere in the yard.

However, what made the Zhou family overwhelmed was not only the people who came to learn how to make cottonseed removers, but also those who brought things to thank them. Come over with a bamboo basket, eggs, duck eggs, home-made pickles, pickles, bacon, meat strips, and all kinds of prepared food, all kept coming to the yard, while those men are carrying The fish caught in the river, the game caught in the mountains, the snails touched in the mud pond, etc., all came to express their gratitude. It was not good for Zhou’s family not to accept them. It made the Zhou family very busy.

After every household in Xiahuai Village used the seed cotton machine, the Zhou family’s cotton had been deseeded and fully packed, so they chose a day with good weather. Went to Changyuan Town, and as soon as he heard that he was going to the town, Zhang Yun said that he would follow, and that was it, Zhang Yun went to the town together with his grandfather, uncle, and cousins.

(End of this chapter)